Switch controlling device



March 13, 1934.

L. T. JENKINS 1,951,153

SWITCH CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 13, 1930 I mm] HIHHH 150722272]Idezz/rin'g Q 7% M fig Patented Mar. 13, 1934 SVVITCH CONTRQLLING DEVICELeonard '1. Jenkins, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 13,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to means for making and breaking of an electriccircuit, has for its principal object the provision of a device adaptedfor association with an electric socket switch whereby the switch mocha.o of the socket may be controlled and timed by connecting the device tothe stem shaft of a clock.

The device may find a ready use in connection with machines orappliances where it may found necessary to control the operation of thesame at predetermined periods. In another instance, the alarm hand ofthe clock may be set at a certain time for controlling the turning on oroff or" a number of electric lights in the display windows of businessestablish The device may further be used in startn trio motor which mayin turn regulate tioning of an oil burning furnace or .certain periodsof the day.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch controllingelement which may be quickly attached to an electric socket switch, andwhich is adapted for movement therearound in certain positions tothereby permit either the switch con trolling element to operate theswitch for turning the same on or off, or allow one to manually operatethe switch when said controlling element is in a neutral position.

A further object of my invention is the vision of a switch controllingelement which may be constructed for detachable association orconnection with socket switches of various types.

A still further object of my invention is the production of a devicethat is simple in construction, of a small number of parts, easilymanufactured, economical as to cost, and durable and efficient for itsintended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of my in v,vention will be evidentafter reading the disclosure hereinafter set forth in conjunction withthe drawing forming a part hereof.

With this end in View, my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing my device associated with a clock;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of 1, showing only the switch controlling element in section and also aportion of the clock casing and the alarm shaft;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a modified construction showing cam means for controlling theswitch means of a socket; and

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation illustrating means whereby it is possibleto detachably associate the 60, switch controlling element with a socketswitch.

1930, Serial No. 435,462

(Cl. MW-35) With reference to the drawing, wherein the elements or partscomprising my device are shown, letter A indicates generally a commontype of electric socket switch, composed of a body part 1 and a head 2,with switch mechanism means arranged therein, with the plunger means 3of the switch mechanism extending in a transverse position relative thelongitudinal axis of the electric socket switch. Letter B indicates acord which is secured to a source of current, and letter C indicates aline and plug adapted for association with the socket. Although aparticular type of socket switch is shown, it is to be understood thatany of the various types of common sockets in commercial use may besatisfactorily used, providing they have received the approval of theUnderwriters Laboratories. By slight alterations of the switchcontrolling element the same may be adapted for controlling any of thevarious types of switch mechanism means which are arranged in thevarious types of switches. Rotatably mounted upon the enlargement of thehead 2 of the socket is a band 4 with its edges 4 partially enclosingthe enlargement to prevent the band from becoming loose. Secured by anysuitable means as by welding, soldering, or the like, to the band 4 is asupport 5, which in the present case, comprises the lower section orportion of a socket body part 1. The support 5 of course may beconstructed in various other forms to accomplish its intended purpose.The support 5 is provided with openings 6 through which the plungermeans of the switch mechanism rides when the band 4 and support 5 arerotated about the longitudinal axis of the socket. While in thisembodiment the support 5 is shown secured to the annula band 4, it is tobe understood that it may be secured to a suitable band which isconstructed and arranged for rotation relative the body part 1 of thesocket, or if desired, two bands may be used for securing the support,one of which may be rotatable on the head of the socket and one on thebody part of same. Rotatably or movably mounted in the support 5transversely of the longitudinal axis of the socket is a bent shaft '7having a bent portion 8, and rotatably mounted on the bent portion 8 ofthe shaft is a roller 9 adapted for contact with the plunger means 3 ofthe switch mechanism means of the socket.

It will be evident that the shaft '7 is provided to have its ends extendin certain positions so that the female end 10 of the shaft is a triflelonger than the end 11 of the shaft. In many alarm clocks the alarmwinding stem to which the key is adapted to be attached does not extendexteriorly of the casing of the clock D and there- 1 -nism of the clock.

tioned a sufiicient distance from the back of the clock D to therebyprevent the device from interfering with the other controllingmechanisms projecting from the back of the clock.

The female portion 10 of the shaft is shown extending through theopening 12 provided in the back 13 of the clock, in threadableengagement with the male portion 14 of the alarm clock shaft or stem 15.

It will thus be apparent that to attach the device to the alarm shaft orstem 15 of the clock D the key 16 is removed from the male portion 14 ofthe alarm stem 15 and applied to the male portion 17 adjacent the end 11of the shaft '7. The device is then applied to the shaft or stem 15 ofthe clock D by attaching the female portion 10 of the stem 7 to the malepart 14 of the alarm clock shaft 15 by turning the key 16 in thedirection necessary for winding the alarm mecha- After this operation ofwinding the alarm spring has been completed, the timing mechanism of theclock may be set at a certain time to rotate the alarm shaft or stem 15of the clock which will in turn set in motion the shaft 7 in a directionto cause the roller 9 one the bent portion 8 of the shaft 7 to contactwith the plunger means of the stch mechanism, it bein understood, ofcourse, that the plunger means has been previously brought into .thedesired position opposite the roller 9. To

prevent extreme wear upon the Support 5 by reason of rotation of theshaft '7, suitable bearings such as 18 may be arranged adjacent theinside of the support 5 in any suitable manner. It is also to beunderstood that the shaft 7 may be provided with means whereby the maybe adjusted in positions to and from "the longitudinal axis of thesocket switch, the object of which would permit one to use the switchcontrolling attachment on other types of sockets other than that whichis shown, and which will also allow the shaft 7 to be adjusted tocompensate for any variation in the distances that the ends of theplunger means extend from the socket switch. Obviously, the energyexerted by the agency of the alarm spring of the clock is suflicient toovercome the resistance offered by the spring of the switch mechanism ofthe socket switch to thereby turn the switch on or oil. It will also beevident from the operation of the device that the switch controllingelement does not interfere or prevent the alarm from continually ringingafter the switch mechanism of the socket switch has performed itsoperation of making or breaking of the circuit.

Fig. 4 is a view substantially the same as that set forth in Fig. 3,clearly showing a modified switch controlling means which consistsprincipally of a cam .20 aihxed to a straight shaft 21, the shaft 21being mounted in a support 22 similar to the support 5.

In Fig. 5, I have clearly shown a band means 23 which is formed witharms 24 through which extends a bolt and nut means 25 whereby it ispossible for one to detachably associate the switch controlling elementwith various types of socket switches,

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modificat ons may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a push button switch, meanscomprising a bent shaft supported thereon for controlling the switch,said controlling means being adapted for movement around said switch tobring the bent portion of the shaft opposite either push button of theswitch means to thereby turn the same on or off, and said controllingmeans adapted for association with means for timing the control thereof.

2. In a device of the kind described, a push button switch, meanscomprising a bent shaft supported on said switch for controlling itsoperation, a roller arranged on the bent portion of said shaft, saidshaft means adapted for bodily movement around said switch to bring theroller on the same opposite either push button to thereby turn theswitch on or off, and said shaft means being adapted for threadableassociation with means for timing the control thereof.

3. In a device of the kind described, a socket having a switchassociated therewith, movable means carried by said socket and rotatabletherearound for controlling the operation of the switch, and adapted forconnection with means 103 for timing the control thereof, said timingmeans having a key therefor and said controlling means adapted toreceive said key from said timing means.

4. In a device of the kind described, a Socket "0 having switch meansassociated therewith, a support transversely arranged on said socket,and means transversely supported on said support for controlling theswitch means, said support and controlling means adapted for bodilymovement I! on said socket whereby the controlling means may be broughtinto various positions to operate said switch means, and saidcontrolling means adapted for detachable connection with means fortiming the control thereof.

5. In a device of the kind described, a socket having a head and a bodypart with switch means arranged therein, a band secured to said head, asupport secured to said band, means for controlling the switch meansmounted in said 125 support, and said band, support, and controllingmeans adapted for bodily movement around said socket whereby saidcontrolling means may be brought into various positions to thereby actupon said switch means in the desired manner to 180 turn the same on oroff, and said controlling means adapted for detachable association withan alarm winding stem of a clock for actuating and timing saidcontrolling means.

6. In a device of the kind described, a socket 135 having switch meansassociated therewith, means supported on said socket for controlling theswitch means, said controlling means adapted for bodily movement on saidsocket and around it whereby the controlling means may be brought intopositions for acting upon said switch means and in neutral positionswhereby said switch means may be manually operated, and said controllingmeans adapted for detachable connection with means for timing the con-

